Athens is the capital and most populous city of Greece. The city, which is the fourth largest capital of Europe with a population of nearly 4 million, is located in the Attica region in the south of the country. Athens, considered the historical capital of Europe, has a long history where the first settlements were made in the Neolithic Age. In the 5th century BC, the city’s values ​​and civilization had universal importance. During this period, known as the Golden Age of Pericles, the city reached the peak of its fascinating history. Over the years, many conquerors occupied Athens and built magnificent monuments. The city, which became the capital of the modern Greek state in 1834, has become an attractive metropolis with its unrivaled charm for two centuries. There are twelve hills in Athens, seven of which are historical. The most important of these historical hills, which are archaeological sites, are the Acropolis, Areopagus, Lykavittos and Muses Hill. These hills escape the noise and chaos of crowded city streets and offer magnificent views of the Saronic Gulf, which borders the Aegean Sea to the south of Athens. One of the places that attracts the attention of travelers is Syntagma Square and its surroundings located in the city center. Plaka District is located in the south of this square, Monastiraki and Thissio are in the west, and Kolonaki is in the northeast. Acropolis, literally meaning “high city”, is a historical site crowned with sacred temples dedicated to Athena, the goddess of the city. Plaka, Monastiraki and Thissio districts, which have 19th-century neoclassical houses and magnificent pedestrian streets, are located on the slopes of the Acropolis. The first prehistoric settlements in Athens began on the Acropolis in 3000 BC. According to legend, Theseus, King of Athens, united the ten tribes in the city in 1230 BC and established the first kingdom here. Although Athens has a prestigious past, it was a small provincial village when it became the capital of the Greek state in the 1830s. The city’s political, economic and cultural importance has diminished over the centuries. However, after the independence of Greece, the way for Neoclassical architecture was paved to erase the traces of the Ottoman Empire. The city, which survived the Second World War with minor damage, continued its rapid development in the 20th century. The contribution of this city, whose history is endless, to the world of literature is also one of the features that attract the attention of tourists. There are dozens of destinations worth visiting in Athens. The most important tourist spots are protected areas from the Ancient Period. You can find detailed information about the Acropolis, which is on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list, the Agora, the trade center of Ancient Athens, the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, which houses artifacts dating back thousands of years, and many other destinations in the rest of our guide. An incredible shopping experience awaits you while exploring the ancient ruins and natural beauties of Athens. If you are a fan of old products, Athens offers its visitors many options in this regard. You will find dozens of cute shops where you can buy traditional craft products, handmade clothes, antiques, and drinks and food from Greek culture. Monastiraki, Plaka, Kolonaki and Ermou Street are the main shopping areas in the city. There are people in Athens who love to have fun. Therefore, it is famous for its lively nightlife. Parties are held almost every day of the week. Gazi, Psirri, Exarcheia Monastiraki and Kolonaki are among the regions with the busiest nightlife. If you want to join traditional Greek entertainment in taverns, Plaka is the best place for that. Although Athens is a safe city, crimes such as pickpocketing can be committed, especially in the subways. For this reason, we recommend that you keep your belongings safe. As in every city, there are rough areas here too. These areas, generally centered around Omonoia Square, are a little more troublesome in terms of crime rates. We recommend that you do not visit this area at night, where a significant number of homeless people and drug addicts live. If we talk about the climate of Athens, it generally has a warm Mediterranean climate. The most typical features of the climate are hot and dry summer months and mild rainy winter months. The most suitable seasons to visit the city, which experiences its hottest days in July and August, are spring and autumn. The city, one of the largest economic centers in Southeastern Europe, has a large financial sector. It has the Port of Piraeus, the largest passenger port in Europe and the second largest in the world. It has a long history in sporting events. Many important sports organizations have been organized in the city, which has had an Olympic culture since ancient times. It hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1896 and 2004. Athens Olympic Stadium, considered one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world, has hosted the Champions League final twice. The biggest sports clubs of the city are Olympiacos, Panathinaikos and AEK Athens. Mavimore Turizm is a travel agency registered with TÜRSAB. Document number: A-8307